Web Essay: Texting while driving no LOL matter

Of course, I don’t need to repeat what a killer texting while driving is, and what an annoyance texting in sync with anything is, but here are, I hope, some useful, preventative tips to add to your defensive driving techniques. The following scenarios, which are routine, I think, make you a potential victim driving or walking.

A. Whenever and wherever they are leaving or entering a parking lot, you can be sure that these texters/callers are driving with one hand and half a mind, phoning or texting someone to say that “they are leaving/arriving now,” ask “are you ready” or “what’s new” or communicate anything else just as profound. They are moving, not parked, totally oblivious of you entering or leaving or parking.

B. When drivers are at a stop sign, signal light or such, and they are not in the least interested in looking at you, the adjacent driver (this used to be a “hi ya’” moment), or at where they are going, or any hapless pedestrian. They are instead looking at their lap, texting or engaged in whatever they hold on their laps.

C. Used to be when someone was swerving or straddling two lanes, they were intoxicated. Careful now, that very well could be the case. But I have personally experienced drivers/texters ahead of me in and out of lanes, with near collisions with someone trying to pass, causing several cars to go into drag strip in avoidance.

Please beware of parking lots, malls, or any public parking overflowing with mobile phone maniacs. You can bet your life you may lose a lousy lottery.

I cannot use the term accident describing these scenarios, because accidents have an element of surprise or are at least unexpected. These cell or smart phone threats behind the wheel are predictable.